Tips for a novice handgunner?

[S Mac]

As the aforementioned novice I would appreciate input from the more accomplished shooters. I would like to go down this path without gaining to many bad habits, trying to learn on my own. for example, my group is always left of where I think I'm aiming. So far I'm shooting at very close range, there is no telling where I would be hitting if I backed up at this point.
Thanks in advance, Steve Mc

 

[yodogsandman]

Something like this correction chart has helped me with my grip.

http://is-lan.com/challenge/images/Pistol-Correction.pdf

You might just need a sight pusher to change your sight, too.

The guys here provided me with the best information you'll find anywhere.

http://artfulbullet.com/index.php?threads/define-quality-practice-shooting.1124/

 

[Intheshop]

I'll never forget an older FBI agent handing me his backup revolver saying,"you're not gonna believe this Smith trigger".

I emptied the cyl in one smallish hole...after,telling him "it's probably gonna be high right".Translated,once you know that everyone holds a revolver just a bit different,and you confirm where your natural POA is...it does sort of get in focus.Consistently hitting...is first up,you really need to get there,before much else.

 

[RicinYakima]

S,
First you have to tell us what you want to "do" with a handgun. Hunt? Speed games? Bullseye? PPC? Stand on your hind legs plinking? Align the sights and pull the trigger straight to the rear. I would recommend dry firing 100 perfect shots for every ten you shoot with ammo.
Ric

 

[S Mac]

I am a hunter so it would be nice to be proficient enough to make an ethical kill, other than that just casual plinking and self defense purposes. Align the sights and pull the trigger straight to the rear sounds like something to strive for. Thanks Ric.

Thanks for the links Yodog, I had forgotten about that tread, need to review that.

 

[RicinYakima]

S,

I wasn't trying to be a S. A., but wanted to know what you wanted to do. I was in the same spot 20 years ago when my state first opened handgun hunting. You need two positions, standing offhand with two hands (sometimes supported by leaning on a fixed object) and a solid sitting, kneeling, or squatting positon (depending upon your body figure and type). Shooting fast repeat shots is not required, it will come with practice. My hunting gun was a S&W Model 29, and I did most of my practice with a S&W Model 15 (my ex-LE weapon that I had shot for 20 years by that time). Lots of dry fire practice, and position practice. You need to be able to see game and get into shooting positon without thinking about it.

I live in the desert, so I would just walk, see a rock and shoot it. Stalking skills and hunting skills are the most important skills. You need to hit a 6" pie plate 100% of the time to determine your maximum distance.

HTH, Ric

 

[Rick]

You didn't say but I'll assume your shooting a revolver. Grip is everything and maybe a bit more than everything. Lock time and especially barrel time is quite slow, with good sight alignment and good trigger control by the time the bullet exits the muzzle everything that effects recoil will have a huge effect on shot placement. The longer the range the bigger the effect of grip changes. Your grip must be identical on every shot, if you hold the grip a little left or right, higher or lower, if you squeeze the grip harder or lighter from shot to shot you are having a huge effect on how much and in which direction the revolver will recoil. Regardless of how well the sights were aligned when the sears break the bullet will go where the muzzle was pointed at the moment of exit. Where the muzzle is pointing at bullet exit is 100% dependent on your grip. Change your grip from shot to shot and you changed the bullet placement of each shot. This could very well explain your comment "shooting left of where I thought".

Your quite close to me and where I would be hunting about 50 yards is the longest shot I can expect on Bambi. Consider where you will be hunting and what your longest shot is likely to be and practice at a distance a little longer than that, it will make the closer shot on the hunt a bit easier.
.

 

[300BLK]

I've run across 2 guys at the range with the same problem. Both complained that their Glock was shooting to the left regardless of the ammunition. One guy admitted that all of his handguns did this regardless of caliber. I mentioned that it likely was how they were gripping, but neither seemed to think that likely. I shot both guns at 50 yards at called spots on the bank visible to both me and the owners, and both were instantly convinced that I was correct. My advice was to dry fire and watch the front sight. The majority of gripping with the shooting hand is done with 3 fingers, and better if the thumb doesn't apply much pressure. The other hand can be wrapped around the grip with forefinger around the trigger guard to further stabilize.

 

[S Mac]

All good comments guys. And I didn't take your comments with any offense Ric. I'm a simple guy and sometimes simple advice is the best. these are revolvers and I would surely limit my range when hunting, I sure don't want to just wound and loose an animal, I've done that a few times in the past and hate it.

My present problem may very well be a grip problem, or maybe a sight alignment problem, slightly canted sight alignment, have to work on that. I seem pretty consistent.

 

[Stu Ritter]

If you are a beginner handgunner, no matter your ultimate purpose, you have to learn ALL the basics and practice them all the time. I would suggest going to the guys that wrote the book, the US Army Advanced Marksmanship Unit and read the bible. It is located
at http://tinyurl.com/ozrlky2 It has 10 chapters, an intro a glossary, on and on. It is THE bible for learning how to shoot handgun. If you can't hit a piece of paper that's not moving, while holding an ideal position, as still as possible, you can't do it in the field. There
is no magic in pistol shooting, you learn and practice the basics and become proficient.

Stu

 

[Brad]

I spent many months working on shooting a handgun better. Rick works dme thru ammo choices, loading, and most of all, grip. It took me months but I finally did manage an honest 2" group at 100 for 5 shots with a scoped Ruger Super Redhawk.
It was a matter of finding ammo capable of doing the job then fine tuning ME. How you hold the handgun matters.
I can assure you that my 1911 walks rounds to the side as it rotates a bit in my grip if I'm not mindful to hold it properly.

Pay attention to each shot. Where did it go? What changed? Over time a pattern develops and you can problem solve better. Shot, observe, analyze. Repeat.

Plan on shooting many rounds. Like in the 1000's.

 

[S Mac]

All good advice here. I know there is no substitute for practice, just hope to get started on the right path.

 

[Brad]

Practice for the way you plan to shoot in the field. Practicing from and then shooting offhand won't do you much good.
My rifles for hunting are all sighted offhand as that is how I am most likely to shoot in the field. I find it can make a big difference in point of impact.

 

[Rick]

I forgot to include . . . A consistent follow through is a very important part of a consistent grip.

 

[RicinYakima]

I'm going to tag on with Rick and Brad, as they have excellent advise. But look at your hand and see what grip you need, that is the reason there are hundreds of sizes and styles in after market grips. I have a wide thick palm and short fat fingers. Nothing larger than a 1911 fits me. I can't shoot a contender well because I have to turn the gun side ways to reach the trigger. My shooting is better if all the pressure is front to back with nothing touching the sides of the grip. The pressure is in line with the bones of my forearm. This allows me to pull the trigger straight back with no side pressure. There is a hollow space inside the palm that doesn't even touch the grip and the fingers just lightly rest on the side. Now the non-shooting hand gentle squeezes side to side giving control in all directions.

I didn't invent any of this, but was taught this style from Bill Jordan and other LE instructors in the 1960's. Now it is so second nature, I have to think about what I am doing.

 

[Rick]

Grips that fit "your" hand is important. I struggle mightily with stock Ruger or FA single action grips, way too small for my large hands so off they come and replaced with Pach's. yep they are butt ugly but I have a philosophy about that. I love the looks of good wood stocks on a revolver and hate the looks of the Pach's but you need to ask yourself . . . Do you want to shoot good or look good?
.

 

[Brad]

I can answer that for you Rick......

I have long, slender fingers. A stock Ruger grip is fine with me but I too would rather have a rubber grip. Might look like hell but they don't slide all over in my hands.